Chapter 2

Following the route he remembered to Shisui's home, Saitama treated the walk as a way to help his food settle. After eating three meat-filled rice balls, the boy felt bursting with energy.

Ever since he had successfully drawn out chakra the previous night, Saitama had been guiding the energy within him to circulate along his meridians. If a Hyuga had activated the Byakugan, they would have seen the chakra flowing ceaselessly through the child's body along a precise path.

He passed the Dango Shop he often visited and saw that it was already open. Saitama rubbed his slightly distended belly, but in the end, he looked away.

Dango was far too greasy for breakfast. He'd have to pass.

Saitama made his way to the end of the street Shisui had mentioned the day before. It was called the end of the street, but it was actually near the boundary of the Uchiha Clan Compound, quite a distance from the crossroads at the heart of the clan.

It was probably still early, and Shisui likely hadn't gotten up yet. Saitama stopped in front of the door without calling out. The Uchiha Clan's homes all shared the same style, each with a small courtyard.

Just as Saitama was wondering whether to knock, a series of sounds suddenly came from inside.

"Thud!"

"Clang!"

"Sounds like blades clashing?"

Five-year-old Saitama couldn't see past the wooden door. Puzzled, he raised his hand and knocked on the courtyard gate—though he could have just pushed it open and gone inside.

"Who's there?"

A child's voice rang out. Though Saitama had only heard it once, he recognized it at once.

"Hey, Shisui! It's me, Saitama!"

He straightened his Uchiha clan clothes and composed his expression before calling into the courtyard.

"! Saitama!"

Before Saitama could say another word, the courtyard gate opened. Shisui looked delighted to see the fellow clansman he'd just met the day before. Only after the gate opened did Saitama notice that Shisui was practicing with a short sword in the courtyard.

Saitama's gaze lingered on the sword in Shisui's left hand until the other boy bashfully hid it behind his back.

"Training this early?"

"Mother told me to practice the basics of the sword while doing my morning exercises," Shisui said, glancing toward the house.

Following his gaze, Saitama saw a figure moving inside a room with the lights on.

"Am I interrupting?"

He nodded toward the house.

"We're about to have breakfast, so it's a good time to take a break." Shisui scratched his head and eagerly pulled Saitama into the courtyard. "Want to have breakfast with us?"

A gentle-looking woman in her twenties came out of the house, wiping her hands.

"Shisui, do we have a guest?"

She gave Saitama a warm smile.

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Saitama," he said politely.

"Come on in. You can join us for breakfast."

The woman warmly invited the well-mannered child inside.

"Thank you. I'd love to," Saitama replied.

After eating rice balls at Shisui's home, Saitama had lost his appetite for them.

Still, out of politeness, he swallowed the rice balls Shisui's mother had prepared.

Shisui's father was nowhere to be seen at the table. Shisui explained that his father worked for the Konoha Police Force and had gone out on patrol early that morning.

Once Shisui had rubbed his satisfied belly, Saitama led him outside.

"Ma'am, we're going out for a bit."

"Sure. Be careful."

Shisui's mother gave them a gentle reminder. She was quite pleased with her son's new friend. He was composed in both speech and manner, the sort of child she could trust.

"Shisui, were you practicing swordsmanship this morning?"

As soon as they left, Saitama asked curiously.

According to his memories from his previous life, Shisui excelled at the Body Flicker Technique, throwing ninja tools, and swordsmanship. He also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, which was renowned for its peerless genjutsu.

"Yeah, it's part of the training my father assigned me."

Shisui looked bashful but proud.

"That's impressive."

Saitama praised him casually.

A six-year-old who could get up early and practice with a sword showed admirable perseverance. Saitama couldn't help admiring him. No wonder Shisui would accomplish so much in the future.

Thinking of his own talent, Saitama regained his confidence. With the advantage of having "the strongest talent," surpassing others shouldn't be difficult.

Though Shisui was the same age, he had been born in October and was two months older than Saitama. Yet Saitama seemed more mature in his words and actions.

"Where are we going?"

As they left the Uchiha Clan Compound, Shisui asked. The clan's grounds were vast, but they lacked places for entertainment, so the two naturally headed toward the center of the village.

"Let's just wander around. I'll treat you to dango at noon."

Saitama answered nonchalantly, his gaze sweeping over the passersby.

Konoha had woken up by then. Vendors called out in the streets, and shinobi hurried past. Two boys carrying ping-pong-paddle-shaped fans swaggered through the crowd.

"Look, those are Uchiha kids, aren't they?"

"How could you mistake that clan crest?"

Whispers from passersby drifted over now and then. As one of Konoha's most prominent clans, the Uchiha always attracted attention.

The Uchiha had always been arrogant, and ordinary villagers had mixed feelings about the clan—especially since they ran the Konoha Police Force. The force was like a police station from Saitama's memories of his previous life, and it was only natural for ordinary people to feel intimidated.

Though he wasn't a ninja yet, Saitama could still hear the passersby whispering. He turned to look and saw two women having breakfast in a small restaurant.

"Keep your voice down!" One elbowed her companion and hurriedly lowered her head to avoid Saitama's gaze.

Saitama: "..."

"Saitama, what are you looking at?" Shisui asked curiously, not noticing anything.

"Nothing." Saitama suddenly realized that being an Uchiha was like being a monkey in a cage for people to gawk at.

He quickened his pace, and Shisui hurried after him. "Wait for me!"

Letting people point and whisper about him wasn't Saitama's style. The Uchiha name was divisive in Konoha, and the arrogant clan didn't have a single ally in the village.

It was the forty-fourth year of Konoha. Tensions between the villages were rising, and war could break out at any moment.

"Saitama, look over there!" Shisui was like a child discovering a new continent, always eager to share his "important discoveries."

Saitama followed the direction he pointed, feeling his entire body stiffen as dread welled up inside him.

The man wore a jōnin vest, his long hair hanging loose. Purple eye shadow extended down to the sides of his nose, and the tomoe earrings swayed with his head, glittering in the sunlight.

That look... Was it a little too unconventional?

As if he'd noticed them staring, the man turned to look. Shisui fell silent at once, and Saitama's hair stood on end.

What was this kid pointing at? Was this someone they could afford to provoke? Saitama cursed Shisui over and over in his mind.

Orochimaru glanced at the two children in the distance, then quickly looked away. They were probably kids who knew him; he was well aware of how famous he was.

Saitama stiffly turned and headed in the opposite direction. Had Orochimaru already started experimenting on people? Please, don't notice me! That casual glance had chilled Saitama to the bone, as if he'd encountered a natural enemy.

Perhaps his impression of Orochimaru from his previous life had been too strong? With that thought, Saitama pulled Shisui away at a brisk pace.

"Saitama, that uncle was terrifying! He only glared at me, and I froze up completely." Shisui rubbed his chest and muttered under his breath, still looking shaken.

"You don't know who he is? That's Lord Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin."

Saitama put an arm around Shisui's shoulder, his tone tinged with teasing.

"! So that was Lord Orochimaru! My father mentioned him. He said he was a strong contender to become the next Hokage! He's an amazing ninja!"

Shisui's eyes lit up as he immediately understood.

"That's right, a Hokage candidate."

Saitama's mouth twitched.

What a dazzling age, full of one top-tier ninja after another!

Then Saitama thought of how pathetic he'd looked just moments earlier.

Strength... In these turbulent times, getting anywhere without strength would be impossible!

Even with exceptional talent, he absolutely couldn't slack off!

When he looked back, Orochimaru had already disappeared into Konoha's bustling streets.

"Let's go, Shisui!"

Saitama clenched his fist, filled with determination.

At noon, Saitama took Shisui to feast at the Konoha BBQ Restaurant.

It was an old favorite of his. The portions were generous, the prices reasonable, and, best of all, it was quiet, with few strangers around.

After keeping his promise to treat Shisui, the two went their separate ways at the clan grounds. One lived in the Uchiha's southern district, the other in the north—diagonally opposite one another.

Before they parted, Saitama couldn't help bringing it up. "By the way, Shisui, could you ask your father for me? I'd like to learn a few sword techniques from you."

Having eaten Saitama's food, Shisui thumped his chest and promised to help, but Saitama still insisted that he ask for permission first. Swordsmanship might involve secret techniques passed down through the clan.

Thinking of how his bargain-bin parents had left him no sword manuals, Saitama could only scratch his head in frustration.

Now that he'd made friends with Shisui, he might as well pick up a few real skills, right?

Carrying the barbecue he'd bought for Granny Xiang, Saitama hummed as he headed home.

The old woman definitely hadn't eaten yet at this hour. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw her sitting in a wicker chair, taking in the view.

"You're back, little Saitama!"

"I brought you some barbecue from the usual place. I made sure they didn't add any chili."

Saitama gave the paper-wrapped package a little shake.

"Oh, I bought some fresh salmon this morning. I was just about to make you sushi." Uchiha Kaori accepted the barbecue, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"Eat it while it's hot. I'll keep you company afterward."

After the old woman finished eating to her heart's content, Saitama tidied up the food containers and turned toward the stairs.

"Grandma, I'm heading upstairs."

"All right!"

After finishing her meal, Uchiha Kaori closed her eyes to rest in the old wicker chair.

It was a lazy afternoon in late August, and drowsiness always crept up on you—especially when you were getting on in years.

Back on the third floor, Saitama settled cross-legged on the tatami with practiced ease. It was quiet and empty up there, a perfect place to train.

By the time he'd walked home from the barbecue restaurant, the fullness in his stomach had already faded. Sitting cross-legged on the floor now, he felt no discomfort.

He focused on sensing the flow of chakra within him. After spending most of the day deliberately guiding it, his chakra reserves had grown, and his body's capacity had increased along with them.

What a top-tier talent!

Now that he had a basic grasp of chakra, it was time to get familiar with Hand Seals.

With a clear goal in mind, Saitama calmly picked up a scroll from the side. It contained instructions on Hand Seals, along with notes left by his bargain-bin parents—for example, how to transition smoothly between two seals and how to cut corners without preventing a jutsu from taking effect.

He'd read through the scroll several times, but hadn't practiced yet.

After all, haste made waste.

He was still young, and his fingers hadn't fully developed. Practicing Hand Seals too early could put a strain on his hands.

But with the Ninja Academy about to start, it was time for him to learn.

He unrolled the scroll, compared its contents with his memories, then began practicing.

One seal a second, two seals a second... He familiarized himself with them one step at a time.

Of course, that was only his practice speed.

When actually performing a jutsu, he would have to slow down. After all, performing a jutsu wasn't as simple as making the seals in order.

After practicing for a while longer and confirming he'd memorized every Hand Seal, Saitama stopped and sat cross-legged again, continuing to draw out chakra.

Chakra was the foundation. He couldn't afford to waste his talent!

**September arrived, and the Ninja Academy opened for the new school year.

A week had passed since Saitama had shared barbecue with Shisui.

Shisui's father had agreed to Saitama's request, so every morning for the past few days, Saitama had gone to Shisui's home to practice swordsmanship with him.

Shisui's swordsmanship had a deep lineage.

His grandfather, Kagami Uchiha, had been an elite member of the Second Hokage's guard unit. His swordsmanship had been passed down from the Second Hokage himself: the famed Leaf Style, known throughout the Shinobi World.

Another renowned practitioner of Leaf Style swordsmanship was Maruboshi Kosuke, the "Eternal Genin," who was as famous as Might Duy—a living relic of Konoha who had weathered countless hardships.

It was clear from this that the style's power was formidable when mastered.

Meanwhile, Saitama had kept up his chakra training and practiced Hand Seals without slacking off.

His chakra was steadily growing, and his Hand Seals were becoming more and more fluid.

Although Saitama hadn't formally studied any jutsu yet, he'd read every basic scroll his parents had left behind, including the simplest Three Body Technique: the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Clone Technique.